Fake NBA Trade of the Day DEADLINE DAY: Kevin Love to Detroit

Every day, Pick and Popovich will post one fake trade and explain why it makes sense for every team involved to make it. There are no parameters beyond fitting within the salary cap. Sometimes the trades will involve stars, others role players. They are not grounded in actual rumors, they just make sense on paper.

Why Cleveland Would Make This Trade: If Cleveland really wants to play the amorphous, switching style that Golden State does, no team has more to offer than Detroit. In Pope they get one of the league’s best defensive wings and a decent shooter, while the Morris twins provide a little bit of everything and defensive versatility. Tolliver is an extra shooter, but the point is, with LeBron, Iman Shumpert, Kyrie Irving and these pieces, the Cavs could beat Golden State at their own game. Is it particularly likely? Not really, but when LeBron is on your team variance can swing pretty much any series your way.

Why Phoenix Would Make This Trade: They get a first round pick for a malcontent. Great.

Why Detroit Would Make This Trade: Kevin Love is the perfect power forward for a Stan Van Gundy team. He spaces the floor on those devastating Jackson-Drummond pick-and-rolls. He provides sorely needed playmaking in the half court. He can even carry the offense with the second unit if Detroit were to separate his rest with Jackson and Drummond’s (the likely move). Between Tobias Harris and Stanley Johnson, Detroit would likely feel like it has a small forward of the future (or two), and even after this trade the Pistons would have enough cap space to chase a shooting guard this summer (even more if they dump Aron Baynes). Their team now fits well and should grow, but it likely doesn’t have a championship ceiling. Love might just get them there.